Alena♥Christopher: A Romantic and Exotic Wedding in Minsk.

Alena is Belarusian and Chris is Swiss-Colombian. They met in Geneva, lived together in Minsk and had two weddings: first in Belarus and then in Switzerland. This is the wedding that happened in Minsk (Belarus). Alena and Chris welcomed 60 guests and everything looks so perfect! We can feel the passion and chemistry between the couple, the excitement of the guests and how much fun the whole day was. Not to mention the sweet and exotic Belarusian wedding traditions.

I cannot describe how happy I am to write about these two! Alena and I were classmates in Lund, when we were attending a master program in human rights law. We became close friends and she is one the people I cherish the most in the entire world.

Alena is gorgeous, smart, warm and caring. And fun! I had many guy friends throwing themselves on her. With no success. But I remember the look she had in her eyes when she told us about Chris… she was swept off her feet! That made me like Chris even before I had met him. Because man… to owe the heart of a woman like Alena, you got to be special.

Unfortunately, I could not attend their wedding in Minsk, but Alena told us everything. Make sure to read about the Belarusian sweet wedding traditions.

Love Story

We fully discovered the honey and the bitterness of a long-distance relationship. Then, Chris came to live in Minsk for 10 months to study Russian. After discovering the joy of living together, continuing long-distance was unbearable.

“I was living in Switzerland while interning at the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization. I was staying at the house of a lovely lady who happened to be the mother of Christopher’s friend. It was a sunny warm Easter Sunday when everybody gathered in the house for the Easter dinned, including the son of the landlady and Chris. This was the first time me and Chris set eyes on each other.

We both had the adventurous desire to know each other more. We exchanged phone numbers and the game was on. We met the following week for a long walk and discovery of Geneva. And we met again, and again, and again… We had a romantic, sometimes clumsy, but a very cute discovery of each other. This was the beginning of our love story but we did not know that yet.

My short internship was soon over and I had to go back to Sweden to finish my studies. We decided to keep in touch without giving it much expectations. In the end of June we however met again in Minsk, and several times after, in Minsk, Switzerland and around Europe. We fully discovered the honey and the bitterness of a long-distance relationship. Then, Chris came to live in Minsk for 10 months to study Russian. After discovering the joy of living together, continuing long-distance was unbearable.”

The proposal

Chris proposed to me having said the most beautiful speech of what I remember nothing since I was so overwhelmed

“We planned our next escape to Berlin in March 2013. In the end of our stay, late in the night, Chris brought me the Brandenburg Gate, or more specifically to the place where the Wall used to lie. In this symbolic place where the East and the West met, Chris proposed to me having said the most beautiful speech of what I remember nothing since I was so overwhelmed. And I said ‘Yes’ of course! We continued that night in a tiny bar telling the barman about our incredible adventure.”

The wedding planning

Alena and Chris puppet portrait was used to decor the wedding. Notice that they are wearing their countries traditional clothes. So sweet and unique! The piece was made by the Budaev Family..

“Having many dear people living in different parts of the world and thus implying quite complicated logistics, we decided to make two weddings: first, in Minsk, middle of July, and second, in Geneva, beginning of September. Since Christopher and I were still living apart, I was responsible for the wedding in Minsk and Christopher – for the wedding in Geneva.”

However, Christopher had lived in Minsk and really loves it. So, he wanted to show the city to his family and friends, whom flew in some days in advance to tour around. On the wedding day they all had a lot of fun to the sound of a live band.

Alena’s romantic and delicate headpiece was designed and made of clay! It was designed and handmade by the Belarusian artist Mila Ignatik. Mila also produces pretty bridal bouquets out of clay.

They also had the cutest portrait puppet decorating both weddings, which gave quite a unique and whimsical touch.

The pretty day

“Belarusian wedding traditions are many and varied. Based on customs of ancestors and newly introduced (primarily from American culture). We had only a few traditions at our Minsk wedding. We had the first dance, stealing the bride and throwing the bouquet. Otherwise, there were a lot of incredible speeches and dancing. We were very happy to have hired a band. There were 60 guests and did not have an external planner or host. My father and my cousin coordinated the evening and it was absolutely fun and special!”

Groom and bestman. The bouquet was made by Lavanda, who deliver the flowers to the groom in the wedding morning.

In Belarus, bride and groom meet and go together to the registration ceremony in the civil office. Many times accompanied by some of their friends.

The first look…

The friends, specially the best man and maid of honour, play a big role in Belarusian weddings

They stopped by a cafe, before joining everyone else at the wedding reception

They were caught!

Well…We’d better leave…

Ooops! Where are they?

We are happy just happy to be alone ;)

Sorry to interrupt you guys… but it’s time! There are many people waiting for you at the party.

Exchanging vows

There is a lot of toasting at any Belarusian wedding. After many toasts, if not all, the guests sip their drinks and shout ‘gorko!’ (which means ‘bitter’). It means that the newly weds need to kiss to make their guests’ drinks sweeter.

Chris and his mother hug each other warmly.

Wow! We love couples who take their first dance seriously!

The band Gentle Beat cheered up the party, and the guests couldn’t resist hitting the dance floor

Isn’t it adorable when the guests really enjoy the party?

In the second half of the evening, when the guests are relaxed and tipsy and the newly weds walk around instead of sitting still and attracting all the attention, some friends of the bride steal her and inform the groom and the other guests thereon. The groom and his friends have to rescue the bride by fulfilling certain tasks and entertaining the guests.

Videographer: Mitra Wedding.Very young but professional. Ready to adapt his style to your format.

Band: Gentle Beat – played songs agreed in advance. Very respectful and responsible. And very fun too!

Portrait puppets: absolutely incredible artists Budaev family (Ivan and Olga) who make portrait puppets according to photos.

I am Alessandra. Nice to meet you :) This is my story. In August 2008 I left my native Brazil, my darling friends and family, and a promising attorney career to go after my dreams of a better world and take a master program in human rights law, in Sweden. A lot has happened since… and after living in Lund, Paris and Geneva, I arrived in Copenhagen, in the end of 2011, to share my life with my beloved Danish boyfriend, now husband.I used to be the kind of girl who planned traveling around the world, getting to know different cultures, maturing while exposing myself to the unknown. Honestly, I don’t remember ever dreaming of wedding flowers or dresses. Until… Well, until my cherished viking surprised me with the perfect proposal and we decided to get married... Read more about me ->